London Fashion Week: DAY 2 Round-Up

So another long slog on the district line begins on an extremely glorious Saturday morning (I swear it is taking longer get to Temple station on a daily basis!) and after the first cappuccino of the day- the absinthe/champagne cocktails from last night’s tales, please be gone- day two kicked off.

First up was DAKS. Complementing the bright, fresh morning with clean lines, lightweight macs (hey you again) and soft creamy leathers. Carrying on from the sports luxe trend but moving forward from last season, a simpler, more casual take on Prada’s AW open from the breast bone, sleeveless dress over ¾ length trousers was noted throughout the collection. The stand-out piece was the understatedly, sexy low-black floor length black dress- taking us on a palette journey from white-grey-camel-black, it was a very concise, wearable collection and reminded me of dewy mornings and the smell of freshly cut grass. Catwalk lingerie supplied by Triumph.

DAKS

DAKS

‘Inspired by Minnie Must Haves’ finally launched today at Somerset House with a catwalk presentation, before the exclusively designed pieces were taken to the exhibition corridor, where they will be on display until the end of LFW. FashionBite loved the Lulu Guinness Minnie handbag (and the chocolate coated Minnie Mouse sticks provided at the show!)

Lulu Guinness for Minnie Mouse

Hotfooting it over to Vauxhall Fashion Scout, we caught the Spijkers en Spijkers show and instantly fell in love with the twin sisters 1920’s, geometric inspired, watercolour printed skirt. It appears the 90’s school day trend is sticking round for a while yet with glittery jelly shoes spotted over at Manuela Dack (and in the Minnie Mouse motif denim jacket Meadham Kirchhoff designed exclusively for LFW). We LOVE five year old chic with a passion! Speaking to Manuela after the show, she spoke of her love for combining materials, organic shapes and the Caribbean. “I grew up there and it has definitely influenced my SS collection. I like to call it ‘minimal pacific chic’; very simple, light and unfussy, taking inspiration from tropical green houses, with  the contrast between clean architectural lines and materials like glass, leather and silk. And yes, everyone loves the shoes, it’s all they can talk about! I think because they have never been used within a more sophisticated, elegant collection before.”

Watercolour skirt at Spijkers en Spijkers

Spijkers en Spijkers

Jelly shoes at Manuela Dack

Meadham Kirchhoff for Minnie Mouse

After watching a screening of ‘Anu’ – a teaser of Aminaka Wilmont’s SS collction, directed by Kate Cox and Marni Hollande and exploring the dynamics of perfume, with a short discussion with Wilmont and Hollande that followed, it was time for Bernard Chandran- my one to watch of the day! A truly sensational collection. With sculptural heel-less shoes, a focus on diamante embellishment and the directional take on an apron dress with the long at front/short at back design (opposite to the fishtail overload we have seen on the highstreet of late). To the soundtrack of ‘Burial’, the atmospheric mood was noted and used wonderfully throughout the show; picking up on the soft leathers of the morning is dusky pinks, painted on sunglasses on the face, lots of icy blue sequins and the stylish use of PVC, it could have appeared gaudy to some but I was in my absolute element. The perfect SS collection.

Aminaka Wilmont show inspiration behind their SS collection with screening of short film, ‘Anu’

FashionBite’s one to watch of the day, Bernard Chandran

Bernard Chandran

Bernard Chandran

And so it was, the last show of the day, the celebrated Ashley Isham over at Goldsmiths Hall. With Jodie Harsh and Pandemonium spotted on the front row, the show opened to a cue of ‘ahhhhhhh’ as a pooch was held gracefully by a model down the runway. From the beautiful vintage-inspired square diamond waist belts, poppy print silk high waisted tailored trousers and  gold embroidered body of a dress- complemented by the olive tone of the mermaid-shaped bottom, was reflected in the stunningly ornate ceiling of the hall. With delicately rolled and draped hair, pearl necklaces and the use of the one-shoulder design on the dresses, it was an elegant, charming collection, surrounded within the perfect backdrop. On the finale, a selection of opal coloured, floor length gowns sauntered down the catwalk and was seen concluded by Isham’s own jade coloured cropped hair. Simply Lovely.

(More images to follow)

What a wonderful day!

Sian @ FashionBite xx

IMAGE CREDIT: Gareth Gregg Photography